Lost In The Valley Of Death

A riveting work of narrative nonfiction centering on the unsolved disappearance of an American backpacker in India--one of at least two dozen tourists who have met a similar fate in the remote and storied Parvati Valley. For centuries India has enthralled Westerners looking for an exotic getaway a brief immersion in yoga and meditation or in rare cases a true pilgrimage to find spiritual revelation. Justin Alexander Shetler an inveterate traveler trained in wilderness survival was one such seeker. In his early thirties Justin quit his job at a tech startup and set out on a global journey-across the United States by motorcycle then down to South America and on to the Philippines Thailand and Nepal--in search of authentic experiences and meaningful encounters while documenting his travels on Instagram. His enigmatic character and magnetic personality gained him a devoted following who lived vicariously through his adventures. But the ever-restless explorer was driven to seek out ever-greater extremes and greater risks in what had become a personal quest--his own hero''''s journey. In 2016 he made his way to the Parvati Valley a remote and rugged corner of the Indian Himalayas steeped in mystical tradition.